April 04, 2022
The [email protected] project, the brainchild of BASF Antwerp and Air Liquide in the harbor of Antwerp for the capturing, transport, and storage of CO2 emissions in the empty gas field in the North Sea, will receive 356,9 million euros support from the European Innovation Fund (EIF). On Friday, the agreement for the subsidy was signed. […]
April 04, 2022
The Belgian government will be releasing 240 million euros to promote commuting by bicycle in the coming years. This was decided during the budget review, says Minister of Mobility Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo). In addition, the government will also release 30 million euros to ease the transport cost of employees. And last but not least, public […]
April 04, 2022
China’s second-biggest independent automaker next to Geely, BYD or Build Your Dream in English, announced on Sunday that it had stopped ultimately making cars with only an internal combustion engine (ICE). BYD will only continue to produce smaller ICE engines for its plug-in hybrids, next to battery-electric models, the sole focus left. On Twitter, BYD […]
April 01, 2022
The Flemish Minister of Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), rejects the idea of introducing a maximum speed limit of 100 km/hour on the highways. Yesterday, we wrote that Groen, Flanders’ green political party, had suggested introducing a temporary speed limit of 100 kph on the highways. The measure would improve safety, save money and fuel, […]
April 01, 2022
Two-thirds or 70% of Belgians are in favor of more sustainable mobility. Not surprisingly, the bicycle is the symbol of soft mobility for most Belgian road users. Plus: Belgians are mainly deterred from buying an electric car by the cost and the lack of charging stations. This is the conclusion of the first mobility barometer […]
March 31, 2022
Carrefour will install 3 000 charging points for electric vehicles in the car parks of its 400-plus Carrefour Market supermarkets by 2025. On Wednesday, the French multinational retail corporation announced that the franchise supermarkets should also be equipped. According to the press release, Carrefour will thus become France’s leading electric charging network, with more than […]
March 31, 2022
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn has launched procedures to purchase hundreds of electric buses, possibly up to 1 250. It involves buses of all sizes, ranging from 8 to 24 meters in length. De Lijn confirmed this on Wednesday, following the European Tender Journal publications. De Lijn’s ambition is to make its fleet […]
March 31, 2022
Stijn Bex, Flemish MP for political party Groen, wants to lower the maximum speed on highways to 100 kilometers/hour. “Driving slower is less consuming.” According to Bex, the measure could save about 0,7 to 1,5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. The measure should only apply during the daytime. Björn Rzoska, leader of the parliamentary […]
March 31, 2022
Audi Netherlands announced on Thursday it will stop selling from April 2022 all TDI diesel models to focus on plug-in hybrids, fully battery-electric, and TFSI turbo gasoline models. The Dutch never were diesel addicts, and the demand for it in the premium segment shrank to a mere one percent last year. Audi Netherlands sees no […]
March 30, 2022
A new study in six major European markets by Transport and Environment (T&E) shows that today’s electric vans are, on average, 25% cheaper per km to operate than diesel vans. That is €0,15/km for the e-van versus €0,20/km for the diesel van. In another study published simultaneously, most fleet owners show to be prepared to […]
March 29, 2022
Dutch fast-charging provider Fastned managed to double its revenue related to EV charging in 2021 to €12,4 million, +98% compared to the year before. But that doesn’t mean profitability yet. The net loss was still €24,6 million. The yearly report shows that the focus is still on expanding rapidly throughout Europe. Last year, Fastned opened […]
March 28, 2022
The mandatory flight tax will cost Belgian airline companies – Brussels Airlines, Air Belgium, and TUI Fly – five million euros, money they will have to pay out of their own pockets as they can’t impose it on customers for already booked flights. The decision to impose airlines a so-called ‘flight tax’ was taken last […]
March 25, 2022
According to Transport & Environment, the bioenergy sector burns every day a grain volume to the equivalent of 15 million loaves of bread to make ethanol for our fuels. The organization calls it immoral to continue driving on biofuels with grain prices skyrocketing. In stark contrast, the ethanol lobby claims this is the time to […]
March 25, 2022
The Japanese carmaker Nissan has announced that it will refrain from investing in Euro 7-compliant pure combustion vehicles. Instead, the Japanese company will only introduce new passenger cars in Europe with partially or fully electric drives from 2023. The company expects 75% of its new cars in the region to be electrified by the 2026 […]
March 24, 2022
Now that fuel prices are peaking, Dutch motorists are driving more slowly on highways. Probably to save fuel. The Dutch office for traffic data NDW (Nationaal Dataportaal Wegverkeer) noticed that last week, the average speed on 37% of Dutch highways was 1 km/hour lower than before the war in Ukraine began. Researchers of NDW analyzed […]
March 23, 2022
A team of Belgian researchers is analyzing the effects of offshore wind farms on marine life. The nature reserve of the Princess Elisabeth Zone in the North Sea can only be used for energy production if the impact on plant and animal life is limited. The ‘EDEN 2000’ research project – ‘Exploring options for a […]
March 23, 2022
In Saint-Gilles, cargo bikes have replaced the trams in the former Belgrade workshop of the public transport company MIVB/STIB. The Brussels-based cyclo-logistics cooperative Urbike has taken up residence there, the result of a call for projects before the building is completely renovated. Urbike is one of the reference companies in delivering goods by cargo bicycle. […]
March 22, 2022
The US State of Washington has passed a bill banning the sale, purchase, and registration of new gasoline-powered vehicles of the model year 2030 or later. If it becomes law, Washington will phase out internal combustion vehicles five years earlier than other ‘leading’ states like, for example, California. The transportation package is called ‘Move Ahead […]
March 21, 2022
Last weekend, Flemish Minister of Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), and the Flemish Foundation for Traffic Science (Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde, VSV) launched a new campaign to get more people on the bicycle. “Especially for short-distance trips,” she added. She gave the kick-off in Oudenaarde (East of Flanders). One of the figureheads of the campaign is […]
March 21, 2022
In general, the air quality in the Brussels region is better than expected. However, standards are still exceeded in the capital center and the vicinity of significant traffic axes. The results were obtained from CurieuzenAir, the most extensive air quality study of Brussels. As part of the CurieuzenAir project, air quality measurements were taken at 3 […]
March 18, 2022
The Flemish Minister for Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), allocates an additional 1,6 million euros to tackle illegal dumping along the Flemish highways. Last year, the Agency for Roads and Traffic (Agentschap Wegen en Verkeer, AWV) collected 1,34 million kg (1 343 tons) of trash along the Flemish regional roads and highways. A decrease of […]
March 18, 2022
Flanders and Germany are betting on faster adoption of hydrogen to cut gas reliance from Russia. Flanders wants to convert natural gas from Norway to hydrogen in the port of Ghent, while Germany is starting a feasibility study for transporting H2 from Norway through a pipeline. The Flemish minister-president said that hydrogen is the only […]
March 18, 2022
The Ministers for the Environment of the European Union have reached an agreement in Brussels on the rules for using and reusing industrial batteries and batteries for domestic use. Future batteries should be more sustainable, reusable, and have a longer life-span. This implies that the production, use, and processing of used batteries has to become […]
March 16, 2022
British Enso is the first tire manufacturer to receive a B-Corp certification, a much sought-after approval by companies who want to develop in a more sustainable way. In this case, tires are especially suited for EVs with lower fine particles output and promising longer ranges. Enso claims that regular tires aren’t optimized for electric vehicles […]
March 16, 2022
The noisiest and heaviest aircraft must be banned from Brussels Airport. That is what the Federal Ombudsman for the national airport, Philippe Touwaide, has stated at a press conference on Tuesday. “There are infringements every night, and we don’t pursue them,” Touwaide said, citing the case of noisy aircraft such as Boeing 777s at night […]
March 16, 2022
Flemish Minister for Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen), has finally resigned to the idea of keeping the two youngest nuclear power plants open. The final decision will be made on Friday, but the war in Ukraine has reshuffled the cards thoroughly. On top of that, the green parties Groen and Ecolo would like to […]
March 16, 2022
Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt announces a second giga-battery factory to be built in Germany, in the northern part, in Heide (Schleswig-Holstein). Volkswagen has a deal with the Swedish for building ‘Northvolt Zwei, in Salzgitter, so this plant is baptized ‘Northvolt Drei’ (Northvolt Three). The new battery factory should have an annual potential capacity of 60 […]
March 15, 2022
The Flemish government will increase premiums for renovation, insulation, heat pumps, and renewable energy for this and next year. The budget will go up from 440 to 658 million euros, or 218 million euros more to subsidize heat pumps, solar boilers or insolation works at homes up to €25 000. The main goal is to […]
March 14, 2022
At a general assembly in Namur on Sunday, the 168 recommendations were presented of a special panel of sixty Walloon citizens, selected by lottery, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region by 55% at least. After fifteen meetings, this civic panel has concluded a report spanning over nine areas that were subsequently arranged according […]
March 14, 2022
Mercedes-Benz has presented its global strategy for recycling electric vehicle battery systems. This initially includes the construction of the company’s own pilot battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, Germany, and plants in China and the USA. The recycling factory in Kuppenheim, Baden, Germany, had already been confirmed by the Group in November 2021, when the planned […]
March 11, 2022
What was deemed impossible until recently, has suddenly become a reality because of Putin’s war in Ukraine. According to an analysis by BloombergNEF grey – or polluting – hydrogen has become more expensive than its green alternative due to the critical rise in prices for fossil natural gas it is made from. In Europe, it […]
March 09, 2022
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new rules to slash air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles. The new standard mainly addresses nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and particulate matters (PM) and should come into effect for trucks and buses manufactured in 2027 and later. The last standards date from 20 years ago. The authorities plan to […]
March 09, 2022
According to a new International Energy Agency (IEA) report, global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021 rose to the highest level ever. Increased use of coal was the main factor driving up global energy-related CO2 emissions. The Covid-19 pandemic had far-reaching impacts on energy demand in 2020, reducing global CO2 emissions by 5,2%. However, the world […]
March 08, 2022
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced his decision to expand the Ultra-Low-Emission Zone (ULEZ) to all of Greater London. As for now, the zone covers the areas within the North and South Circular Roads, but under the expansion, the whole territory within the M25 will be monitored for polluting cars. The rules remain […]
March 08, 2022
Today, Transport & Environment (T&E), the European Federation for Transport and Environment, publishes its ‘Roadmap to climate-neutral aviation’. According to the organization, progress in technology and the lessons learned during the pandemic have shown a way to green aviation in Europe. To bring Europeʼs aviation industry in line with our climate goals, binding measures have […]
March 03, 2022
On Wednesday, the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) has endorsed a worldwide resolution to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024. The convention is called ‘historical’ and is one of the greenest deals since the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. “Today marks a triumph by planet earth over single-use plastics. This is the most […]
March 03, 2022
Airline Ryanair is going to expand its summer offer at Charleroi significantly. Twenty destinations will be added at Charleroi, announced Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary. These include Naples, Madeira, Sibiu, and Stockholm. Ryanair is thus flying to 121 destinations from Belgium, an absolute record, claims the low-cost carrier. The company is very optimistic and hopes […]
March 03, 2022
After a number of its four-cylinder diesel engines getting an XTL (X-to-liquid) sticker on their fuel hatch in 2021, Audi has certified its V6 diesel engines up to 210 kW (286 pk) for using sustainable HVO fuel. But actually, nothing has changed technically, as most modern diesel engines can run this renewable fuel. HVO stands […]
March 02, 2022
The car carrier Felicity Ace, catching fire nearly two week ago passing by the Azores with some 4 000 vehicles aboard, has sunk on Tuesday to a depth of more than 3.000 meters on the ocean floor. Several EVs on board kept on burning for days, but apparently, the massive smoke was no longer seen. […]
March 02, 2022
With the symbolic presentation of the first fully electric Jeep to hit the markets next year, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has paved the way for the group to sell only 100% electric passenger cars in Europe by 2030. We may expect a fleet of 75 different BEV models, and he hopes to sell five million […]
March 02, 2022
Brussels Mobility wants to reorganize the Sainctelette Square and the IJzer Square that are lying side by side. Both squares should become one open space with more room and comfort for cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport. About three years ago, the Sainctelette Square was ‘declared’ Brussels’ most dangerous junction. The actual reorganization plans should alter […]
March 02, 2022
Ghent is the third Flemish city to introduce silent and emission-free e-buses from public transport company De Lijn. The buses will be used on line 6, between ‘Gent Watersportbaan & Mariakerke Post’ as of Tuesday. The e-buses in Ghent are products of VDL. They have a 200 km range, and they will be charged overnight […]
March 02, 2022
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has sent its first batch of Yaris cars across the channel by train freight. This stepping stone will lead to a broader logistics network that ultimately connects the European plants of the car manufacturer by rail. As a result, it targets a significant CO2 reduction. In France, Toyota’s Valenciennes Vehicle Logistics […]
March 01, 2022
The impact of climate change is more severe than expected. All over the world. Even when global warming would stop at 1,5 degrees Celsius. That is the conclusion of the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations. The climate experts say that extreme weather conditions, floodings, and forest […]
March 01, 2022
Daimler Trucks has delivered its first seral-produced eActros trucks to clients in Germany. DB Schenker, a division of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn that focuses on logistics, got the first one in Leipzig. Logistics service provider Dachser in Stuttgart also got the keys to an eActros 300. Both were part of the initial test program. […]
February 28, 2022
Belgian rail network manager, Infrabel, and rail company NMBS/SNCB will be able to invest an additional 445 million euros in the coming years thanks to European and federal money. The money comes on top of the investments via the traditional allocations they receive. For Infrabel, it is 357 million euros, for NMBS/SNCB 88 million euros. […]
February 25, 2022
Most of the most prominent Belgian cities will still have a long way before achieving ‘clean, active, and shared mobility’. That is the conclusion of a study by the Clean Cities Campaign, a coalition of European regions. The study criticized the cities according to five criteria: traffic safety, air quality, local authorities’ measures (like low-emission […]
February 25, 2022
The BMW Group has joined the Responsible Lithium Partnership initiated in 2021 by Volkswagen, Daimler, BASF, and Fairphone for sustainable lithium mining in Chile. Even after the split of Daimler AG into Daimler Truck and the Mercedes-Benz Group, both parts are still members of the alliance, making BMW the sixth company to join the group. […]
February 24, 2022
On Wednesday, the federal government has signed an agreement with the British government and Norway to strengthen their energy cooperation. This far-reaching cooperation should guarantee Belgium’s energy supply. The Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo (Open Vld), and his Norwegian colleague, Jonas Gahr Store (Labour Party), confirmed the agreement with their signatures. Belgium already has […]
February 24, 2022
The Hyoffwind consortium with Colruyt’s Virya Energy and grid manager Fluxys expects its green hydrogen project in Zeebrugge, Belgium’s first 25 MW hydrogen electrolyzer plant, to get its building permit by the middle of 2022. It should be operational by the end of 2023. The consortium has granted the building contract of the factory to […]
February 23, 2022
Belgian household services provider Ekoservices has just added 15 Citroën Amis to its fleet of company cars. The service provider is making a statement because, as a local assistance supplier, a small electric vehicle with a maximum speed of 45 km/hour is a remarkable choice. At Citroën, they describe their Ami as ‘disruptive urban mobility’. […]
February 23, 2022
The Belgian energy provider Elia has given the green light for the exploitation of new activities at sea. The company will create a subsidiary, called WindGrid, to connect wind farms at sea and build out a European electricity network. WindGrid gets Markus Laukamp at the helm as CEO, coming over from German STEAG New Energies, […]
February 23, 2022
Germany has joined France in opposition to banning all ICE cars (with an internal combustion engine) in Europe by 2035. On Monday, the German Transport Minister, Volker Wissing (FDP), has pleaded to study synthetic fuels as an alternative to use in ICE cars. The European Transport and Infrastructure Ministers and other representatives were united at […]
February 22, 2022
The Brussels City Council has given the go-ahead to the new circulation plan for the capital’s Pentagon by a large majority. The new circulation plan aims to reduce transit traffic in the busy downtown districts and give pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport space. The intention of the alderman for Mobility Bart Dhondt’s plan is to […]
February 18, 2022
Sales of electric vehicles, including battery-electric and plug-in hybrids, rose by 109% last year, according to research by analyst company Canalys. Demand for electric cars is gaining strong momentum globally, but the growth of more than 109% shows a very different face from one region to the other. Where electric vehicles represent 15% of the […]
February 18, 2022
At the Kyndryl data center – a spin-off of IBM’s data infrastructure branch – in Bastogne, the ‘largest active battery’ of the Benelux has delivered already 16 000 megawatt-hours of backup energy since the startup in December to Belgian high voltage grid manager Elia. Grid managers like Elia continuously monitor the grid to keep supply […]
February 18, 2022
For its Polestar 5, the Geely-daughter and exclusive manufacturer of EVs will use a new chassis made of bonded aluminum in the Polestar 5 announced for 2024. The Swedish brand hopes to avoid the previous disadvantages with a specially developed manufacturing process. Bonded aluminum has a lot of advantages, the most important being lightweight and […]
February 17, 2022
The Brussels Pentagon will become a low-traffic area as of 16 August. The city council has announced this. Less transit traffic should make the center more livable, accounting for no less than 42% of total traffic. The aim is to use loops, one-way streets, and traffic filters (which do not allow cars through) to ensure […]
February 17, 2022
As of the 28th of February, the city of Oxford is putting the brakes on all non-zero emission vehicles in its city center. As part of a pilot project, only electric cars or vehicles running on hydrogen will be allowed free entrance. Oxford will not block the innermost ring for vehicles with other drivelines, but […]
February 17, 2022
The East Flemish concrete producer De Bonte will mass-produce green cross ties – green in both senses of the word – made from sulfur concrete. Sulfur is a waste product of the chemical industry. The result is a solid and environmentally friendly construction material. On Wednesday, the company officially inaugurated a new production line in […]
